http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/stop-corruption-from-hurting-esscom-anti-graft-body-tells-najib
9 June 2014
The problem of corruption needs to be addressed urgently, before moving forward with any other efforts in keeping Sabah safe, Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) urged Putrajaya today, Bernama reported.
TI-M called on
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to deal with the issues of
low integrity, graft and information leaks amongst security and defence personnel in the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom).
In a statemet issued today, the
global anti-graft body also called for
greater transparency in
investigations and reporting because any threat to
national security was a matter of public interest.
According to Bernama, TI-M noted with concern the
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein's statement recently that corruption and leakages were among the causes of continued intrusions in the 1,400km-long coastal areas of
Sabah under the
Esscom.
"TI-M supports the defence minister in calling for an urgent need to address these weaknesses after reviewing Esscom's roles and functions to strengthen
maritime security in the
eastern part of Sabah covering four perspectives namely software, hardware, human resources and intelligence.
"TI-M strongly believes that national security must not be compromised at any cost, let alone by corruption in any form. All enforcement agencies under Esscom must work closely and together to fight not only corruption but also to protect and defend our sovereignty against intrusions," the statement said.
Asking the
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to thoroughly investigate any proof presented by Hishammuddin and Esscom, TI-M said any case of corruption must be nipped at the bud, including with "the immediate removal of personnel involved".
On the Defence Ministry, TI-M believes the time has come for
Members of Parliament from
both sides of the political divide to enhance their oversight of the country's defense budget and focus on tightening the
standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the procurement of defense equipment, Bernama reported.
"In order to achieve greater transparency with the purchase of defense equipment, TI-M recommends that the Defence Ministry SOP for equipment procurement be based on
open tenders," the statement said. - June 9, 2014.
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